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Takeaways: Kingsbury reflects on Saturday's loss to K-State

Texas Tech head coach Kliff Kingsbury met with members of the local media on Sunday night following the Red Raiders' Sunday walkthrough practice. Here's what the head coach had to say...


-Kliff was asked about the team's mentality during their Sunday evening practice after what happened against K-State on Saturday:

"I think it was good. We were obviously pretty disappointed after the game, but we know we have three games left, and we want to maximize all three. We're out here trying to get better."

-The head coach was also asked if this loss sticks with you longer as a coach considering you were up by 11 points late:

"I think you analyze them all, and they all kind of go down in the same pile. We couldn't get it done. Had a lot of opportunities, felt like we played to win, felt like we had some good things going, just couldn't close it out. But, we've moved on, and we're ready to get ready for Baylor."

-On second half play against K-State, overall this season:

"We have to be better in the second half. We were a little bit better, but still a ways to go."

-On missing linebacker Jordyn Brooks, how Riko Jeffers played in his place:

"It didn't help, but I was proud of Riko Jeffers stepping in there as a true freshman, finding out he was gonna start the night before, so he played hard. He was in on a bunch of tackles, did some nice things."

-Kliff gave an update on rush end Lonzell Gilmore, saying that the sophomore is done for the year with a knee injury. He'll miss the final three games.

-Kingsbsury also said that defensive end Eli Howard is set to get his cast off this week, so the hope is that he might be even more disruptive with pass break ups and as a pass rusher moving forward.

-Willie Sykes is day-to-day, "dealing with some things," Kliff saying that him missing Saturday's game for off the field issues.

-I asked Kliff if the long throw by Shimonek on the 4th and goal play in overtime was due to poor footwork, which he confirmed:

"I think just didn't really get set. He left it long."

-The head coach was asked if TJ Vasher has ever had issues with dropping the ball, to which Kingsbury said he never has. Just one of those weird off days that even great receivers tend to have once in a while. "Very sure handed."

-I asked Kingsbury what they saw on tape on the final defensive drive in regulation, what he thought went wrong:

"Just allowing that big play out of the gate. We were in kind of a preventative coverage, and it never should've happened. But, you've got to give them credit for making a good throw, and we've got to get them down to make that a 30 yard throw instead of a 60 yard gain. That allowed them to get back into some of their base packages instead of being in a two minute package, which isn't their strong point."

-On if, after reflecting on it and watching film, if he would've gone for the score with 42 seconds left to play:

"No. I wouldn't. A lot of thought went into that with where we were at, what we needed to do accomplish. I wouldn't change anything."

-I asked Kingsbury how you can keep the team positive and focused after four straight losses, how you stop that from bleeding over into this week:

"You just focus on what you can control as a team. They know they've had moments when they've been really good, still feel like our best football is in front of us. We know these are big opportunities in front of us, these last three. Any time you get to go to AT&T Stadium, it's a really special place to play. I think we're 1-5 against Baylor in the last 6, so there's a lot to play for, and our guys will be ready to go."


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